Holden stopped building cars in Australia in 2017, and the brand itself has since gone. If you want a Commodore, a Monaro or an HSV in the UK, that can make it feel like you are chasing something that no longer exists. The cars are still very much there, though, and they are right-hand drive, which makes them one of the easier long-haul imports we handle.
- Main sources
- Australia and New Zealand
- Steering
- Right-hand drive
- Shipping
- From £3,200, shipping only
- Time at sea
- About 6 to 10 weeks
- Tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty, or 5% VAT over 30 years
Which Holden
Most of the Holdens people ask us about fall into a few groups. Each one sits differently for tax and testing, because what matters here is the age of the car.
| Feature | What it is | Testing today | Tax today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Holdens | Kingswood, Torana, early Monaro and similar, 1960s to 1980s | No MOT if over 40 and not substantially changed, otherwise MOT | 5% VAT, no duty if over 30 |
| Commodore saloons and wagons | Built in Australia from 1978 to 2017 | MOT, or IVA if built after October 2016 | Standard rate unless over 30 |
| Monaro (2001 to 2005) | Two-door coupe on Commodore underpinnings | MOT | Standard rate |
| HSV models | Holden Special Vehicles, from 1987 | MOT, or IVA on the last cars | Standard rate unless over 30 |
| Commodore-based utes | Car-based utes, including HSV versions | MOT, or IVA on the last cars | Standard rate unless over 30 |
Commodore and HSV
The Commodore was Holden's big rear-wheel-drive saloon for four decades, and the V8 versions are the ones most people want. HSV took those cars and turned them into faster, louder, better equipped versions. Some of them came to the UK new as the Vauxhall VXR8.
That UK link is worth knowing about. A UK-supplied VXR8 is already here, so people usually import an Australian car for a particular model, colour or spec that never came over, or because they owned it in Australia and are moving home.
Monaro
The name goes back to the late 1960s, and the early coupes are proper classics now. The revived Monaro of 2001 to 2005 was also sold here as the Vauxhall Monaro, so it is a known quantity to UK owners' clubs and specialists.
Utes
The Commodore-based ute is a very Australian idea: a car at the front, a load bed at the back, and often a V8 in between. They ship like a large car rather than a full-size American pickup. If the way it will be taxed and insured as a car or a van matters to you, our guide to importing a pickup truck covers that side.
The last Commodores are under 10 years old. Australian production ended in October 2017, so a car built after October 2016 still needs an IVA test rather than an MOT. The later ZB Commodore was built in Germany as an Opel Insignia, which is a different car altogether. Check the build plate before you buy.
Australia or New Zealand
Holdens were sold new in both countries, and both drive on the left, so either is a sensible place to buy. The guide shipping price is the same for both, and so is the time at sea.
- Australia: shared container, or a dedicated 20ft container if you want one to yourself. Our partner hauliers collect from anywhere in the country.
- New Zealand: shared container or RoRo. RoRo takes around 6 to 8 weeks, a container around 8 to 10.
If the car is lowered or modified, say so on the quote form so we can plan how it is loaded. Our guides to shipping from Australia and shipping from New Zealand go through each route in full.
What to check before you buy
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 7 done
Modified cars are common, and that is fine as long as the work is good. A modification that affects emissions, noise or lighting will be looked at closely in an IVA test, so tell us about it early. For the general checks on any car bought from far away, see buying a car abroad safely.
Shipping and tax
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping a car from Australia or New Zealand starts from £3,200. That is shipping only. It does not include registration, testing, other services, import tax or any work the car needs. From collection in Australia to registration here, allow around 10 to 16 weeks in total.
A Holden under 30 years old pays 20% import VAT and 10% import duty, worked out on the price of the car plus the cost of getting it here. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which covers the classic Holdens and any Commodore built before October 1996.
If you are moving to the UK and bringing your own car, you may not pay any tax at all. Lived outside the UK for 12 months and owned the car for 6, and Transfer of Residence can bring it in free of VAT and duty. The import tax calculator will run your own numbers.
Getting it road legal
Being right-hand drive, an Australian Holden needs very little. The changes we make most often are:
- A rear fog light, if the car does not have one
- A speedometer that reads in mph, on cars under 10 years old
Then it takes the test that fits its age. A car under 10 years old takes an IVA test, one between 10 and 40 years old takes an MOT, and one over 40 that has not been substantially changed needs no MOT at all. Our guide to importing a classic car covers the older ones.
Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and all of this happens on our site in Castle Donington. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, with MOT testing in the same building, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car within 10 working days. The IVA test explained covers what the examiner checks.
Questions people ask
Can I still import a Holden now the brand has gone?
Yes. Holden stopped building cars in Australia in 2017, but the cars are still on the road in Australia and New Zealand and can be shipped and registered here like any other right-hand drive car.
Does a Holden Commodore need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old. As of October 2026 that means the last Australian-built cars from after October 2016. Older Commodores take an MOT.
Is an HSV the same as a Vauxhall VXR8?
Some VXR8s were HSV cars sold new in the UK by Vauxhall. People import Australian HSVs for models, colours and specs that were never sold here.
How much tax will I pay on a Holden from Australia?
Usually 20% VAT and 10% duty on the price plus shipping. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, and Transfer of Residence can make it nil if you are moving to the UK and qualify.
Can you ship a Holden ute?
Yes. A Commodore-based ute ships much like a large car. Tell us the exact model and any changes to its size, such as a canopy, when you ask for a quote.
Found the one? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the whole job, from Australia or New Zealand to your drive.
